Bed.



A. M. MAY.

BED,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15,1910.

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A. M. MAY.

BED.

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BED.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. MAY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beds; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to. beds and particularly to invalid beds.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a bed of such aconstruction that a bed-pan can be easily inserted beneath the patient,the patient can be washed or otherwise cared for, and the beddingchanged or otherwise maintained in a sanitary condition without causingthe patient any discomfort or rendering necessary a movement of hisbody.

A further object is to provide means whereby the bedding and patient canbe raised or lowered bodily, and whereby the patient can be readilyraised and supported in an inclined position.

Further objects will appear from the following detailed description.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a bed having the bed bottom orthe portion supporting the bedding, formed in sections which normallyrest on the frame, and provide means whereby the sections can be raisedand lowered simultaneously, or any one or more of the sections can beraised or lowered with respect to the others. In the specific embodimentof my invention here shown, I provide a movable rectangular frame ofsubstantially the same shape as the main stationary frame of the bed,and which may be raised or lowered with respect to the latter, andprovide means whereby when this frame is moved it may shift verticallyall, or one or more of the frame sections together with the mattresswhich is likewise formed in sections, or raise to an inclined positionthe sections toward the head of the bed.

My invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certainnovel details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts,which will be described in the specification and set forth in theappended claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1%10. Serial No. 421,291.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a bed equipped withmy invention, showing the movable frame raised above the main frame andsupporting in an inclined position the head sections of the bed bottomand mattress; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is aplan View of one of the movable frames or bottom sections. Fig. 4 is acentral longitudinal section showing one of the trays lowered. Fig. 5 isa central transverse section and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail viewshowing the method of supporting the ends of the trays.

An ordinary or common form of bedstead is preferably employed incarrying out my invention, and in the drawings I have shown a metalbedstead consisting of a frame having side pieces 10 and 10*, end pieces11 and 11 formed of angle iron, a head piece 12 and a foot piece 19f ofinverted U-form, the ends of which form the legs of the bed.

Extending across the bed between the sides 10 and 10 are two cross bars13 and 13 near the head and foot of the bed respectively, the formerbeing shown in Fig. 1 and the latter by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

At 14; is shown a movable rectangular frame formed in this case of angleiron and of substantially the same shape as the main stationary frame,but which is slightly smaller and normally lies within the latter. Atthe corner of the bed and extending through the ends of the cross bars13 and 13 are four vertically movable supporting bolts 15 which engagethe lower sides of the frame 14: at the corners and serve to raise orlower the latter and to support it in any desired position. At the lowerends of the bolts are pulleys or similar devices 15 and passing aroundall the pulleys is an endless belt or other suitable operating member15*, and one of the supporting bolts, preferably the one at the head ofthe bed, is provided with a hand wheel 15. Thus it is seen that when thehand wheel is turned all the bolts 15 will be simultaneously raised orlowered depending upon the direction in which the hand wheel is turned,and that the movable frame 14 will be shifted vertically, the framealways remaining parallel to its original position.

By referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that thehorizontal flanges of the angle iron sides of the movable frame 14 arenotched or cut away at intervals, in this case there being three notches14 on each side. On the upper face of the horizontal flange of each sideof the frame and on opposite sides of each notch 14 are two lugs 14 andpassing through each of said lugs is a slide bolt or latch 14 which maybe shifted inward so as to project over the adjacent notch for a purposeto be described. As is shown in Fig. 2 the end piece 11 is provided withtwo similar lugs 14 and the end pieces 11 with the two lugs 14.

Extending across the bed and normally resting upon the horizontalflanges of the sides 10 and 10 of the main frame are a number of bottomor auxiliary frame sections 16 in the form of trays, one of which isshown in Fig. 3. These trays which are preferably punched from sheetmetal support the bedding and serve as springs. Each tray as is shown inFigs. 2 and 3 is provided at each end with outwardly extending ears orprojections 16 which are in line with the longitudinal edges or sides ofthe tray, and all of the ears except two designated 16 on the tray atthe head of the bed and two designated 16 on the tray at the foot of thebed extend over the horizontal flanges of the sides 10 and 10 of themain frame, and when the movable frame 14 is in its lowermost positiontwo of these ears or projections on adjacent trays lie in each of thenotches 14 of the sides thereof. The outer corners of the sections ortrays at the head and the foot of the bed are removed so as to permitthe supporting bolts 15 to pass upward above the same. As the outercorners of the sections are removed the two ears or projections 16 donot extend across the flanges of the sides 10 and 10 but are set backand are located adjacent the lugs 14 on the head end piece 11 of themain frame and the ears or projections 16 on the tray at the foot of thebed are set back adjacent the lugs 14 on the foot end piece 11 of theframe. Resting upon the trays are mattress sections 17 havingsubstantially the same contour as the trays or frame sections but beingslightly less in length than the latter, so as to leave suificient spacebetween the ends of the mattress sections and the vertical flanges ofthe sides 10 and 10 to allow the movable frame 14 to be moved freely upand down. These mattress sections are arranged side by side in contactwith one another, so as to cover the entire bed bottom and arepreferably inclosed in separate slips or coverings, upon which thepatient will lie. The section at the head of the bed supports twomattress sections each, one half the size of the other. It will be seentherefore from the above description that the frame 14 can be movedupward above the mattress sections independently of and withoutdisturbing the latter, or if it is desired to carry upward with theframe all or part of the trays and mattress sections, all that isnecessary is to slip the bolts or latches 14 under the projecting earsof the trays, in which case, as is apparent when the frame is raised itwill carry with it these trays and mattress sections.

Extending across thebed and secured thereto in any desired manner atapproximately the center thereof is a cross bar or rod 18, and pivotedon this bar is a U-shaped member 19, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1and 2, having an end or cross piece which normally rests upon the crosspiece 13 at the head of the bed.

Pivotally secured to opposite sides of the frame 14 and near the head ofthe bed are two arms 20 each provided with the number of spaced holes orperforations 20 adapted to receive the ends of a cross bar 20 In case itis desired to. raise the head sections to an inclined position the crossbar 21 is inserted in two corresponding holes 20 in the pivoted arms 20,the cross bar 21 being below the U-shaped member 22. It will be seentherefore that when the frame 14 is raised it will carry with it thecross bar 21, the U-shaped member 19, and the two trays or sectionstoward the head of the bed and the corresponding mattress sections.I/Vhen the parts are in this position or in the position shown in Fig. 1with the movable frame 14 in its upper position the sides of the frame14 form a convenient means for supporting a table board, on which can beplaced food, medicine, or reading matter for the patient.

The object of the construction described above will now be explainedmore fully. In case it is desired to insert a bed-pan beneath thepatient all that is necessary is to raise all the trays and mattresssections, except one, by first sliding the bolts or latches under theears of the trays to be raised and then shift the frame 14 by turningthe supporting bolts. If it is desired to wash the patient withoutmoving his body, the lower section for example, can be supported on themain frame while the remaining sections are raised, after which thelower portion of the body can be washed. The sections which were raisedcan then be lowered and a different section can be left upon the mainframe while the others are raised. I/Vhen this is done another part ofthe patients body can be washed. The same operation can be repeated withthe other sections until the entire body is washed. In case it isdesired to change the coverings of the mattress sections while the bedis occupied by the patient, this can be readily done by raising all thetrays, but one, removing the mattress section supported on the tray,changing the cover and again restoring the section while the patient issupported on the remaining sections. In a similar manner the othermattress sections can be removed one at a time.

I do not desire to be confined to the exact details shown but aim in myclaims to cover all modifications which do not involve departure fromthe spirit and scope of my invention.

that I claim is,-

l.- In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting membersresting thereon, and means comprising a frame movable with respect tothe main frame for raising said mattress supporting memberssimultaneously or one or more independently of the others.

2. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting sectionsnormally resting thereon, an auxiliary frame movable with respect to themain frame, and means for attaching said mattress supporting members tosaid movable frame so that the former will be shifted with it.

3. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting membersresting thereon, an auxiliary frame of substantially the same contour asthe main frame, a plurality of vertically movable bolts for shiftingsaid movable frame and means whereby said mattress supporting membersmay be attached to said movable frame so as to be shifted with the same.

a. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting membersnormally resting thereon, mattress sections resting on said members, amovable frame of substantially the same shape as the main frame, meansfor shifting said movable frame vertically, and means whereby thesections at the head of the bed may be raised and supported in aninclined position by said movable frame.

5. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting sectionsextending across the same, a movable frame of substantially the sameshape as the main frame, means for shifting said movable framevertically, and means whereby said sections may be simultaneouslyshifted vertically or one or more independently of the others, or thehead sections may be raised to an inclined position by said movableframe.

6. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting sectionsnormally extending across the same, said sections hav ing outwardlyextending ears or projections, and a movable frame having a plurality ofslide bolts or latches adapted to be extended under the ears orprojections of any one or more of said sections, so as to shift the samevertically when the movable frame is shifted.

7. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting sectionsnormally resting thereon, an auxiliary movable frame, and means forresting and supporting the head sections in an inclined positioncomprising a member hinged to the bed and adapted to be raised by themovable frame.

8. In a bed, a main frame, a plurality of mattress supporting sectionsextending across the same, an auxiliary movable frame of substantiallythe same contour as the main frame and adapted to be shifted vertically,a U-shaped member hinged to the main frame, a pair of arms dependingfrom the movable frame, and means adapted to engage said depending armsand said hinged member to raise and support the head sections in aninclined position, when the movable frame is raised.

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, in thepresence of two wit nesses.

ALBERT M. MAY. W'itnesses VICTOR G. LYNoH, N. L. MODONNELL.

